County FMR · HUD FY2026

St. James Parish Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. James Parish, LA - 27% below the US average.

$702
1-bedroom FMR
$921
2-bedroom FMR
-5.3%
YoY change
-27%
vs US avg

The verdict

St. James is the 29th cheapest of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #567 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#567
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#29
cheapest of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
-16%
vs the state average
$28,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for St. James Parish, LA. Verify with HUD →

St. James Parish, Louisiana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $702 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $921/mo and a studio is $697/mo. That's 27% below the national benchmark of $959 and 16% below the Louisiana average of $832.

Rent decreased5.3% from FY 2025 ($741), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,080/year.

Observed renter burden: 26.2% of the 1,081 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Louisiana. Population: 20,090. Population declined 7.3% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area ST·JAMES·PARISH·LA·LA

St. James Parish, LA: $702/mo 1BR · #567 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA LA
  • 1BR-FMR $702
  • 2BR-FMR $921
  • RANK-MID #567
  • YOY-DOWN -5.3%
  • VSUS-LOW -27%
  • VS-ST-LOW -16% LA
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-SMALL 20K
  • PHOTO-NEAR East Baton Rouge P
  • VOUCH-90-110 $632–$772
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: East Baton Rouge ($362 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $763 · US avg: $893
$697/mo
↓ 1.0% YoY -9% vs state -22% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $832 · US avg: $959
$702/mo
↓ 5.3% YoY -16% vs state -27% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,007 · US avg: $1,175
$921/mo
↓ 5.2% YoY -9% vs state -22% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,298 · US avg: $1,525
$1,281/mo
↓ 5.9% YoY -1% vs state -16% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,508 · US avg: $1,756
$1,315/mo
↓ 9.8% YoY -13% vs state -25% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $704
$697
$-7 (-1.0%)
1 Bedroom $741
$702
$-39 (-5.3%)
2 Bedroom $972
$921
$-51 (-5.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,362
$1,281
$-81 (-5.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,458
$1,315
$-143 (-9.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in St. James Parish. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
13%
Affordable
Need $27,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.1%
Affordable
Need $28,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.1%
Affordable
Need $36,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.8%
Affordable
Need $51,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
24.5%
Affordable
Need $52,600/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%17.1%
St. James Parish 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,536 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Louisiana rent burden →

Where St. James sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$921 higher than 18% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How St. James compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows St. James is highlighted. Nearby Louisiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: St. Tammany Parish ($1,130), Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Caddo Parish ($982), Lafayette Parish ($898), St. James Parish (this county) ($702).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $702/mo, most of these Louisiana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation LA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $102,290 8.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,060 8.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,880 10.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,540 12.1% Affordable
Electricians $59,590 14.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,280 16.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,580 16.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,770 17.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $47,580 17.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,700 21.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,890 23.5% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $28,820 29.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $27,940 30.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,040 31.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,110 36.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Louisiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for St. James Parish. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for St. James (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 14.3% overall, from $614 to $702. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.0% (FY 2024).

$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $702
St. James Parish 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓5.3% $697 $702 $921
FY 2025 ↑3.6% $704 $741 $972
FY 2024 ↑11.0% $681 $715 $940
FY 2023 ↑3.7% $609 $644 $848
FY 2022 ↑1.8% $590 $621 $817
FY 2021 ↓0.7% $581 $610 $804
FY 2020 $585 $614 $809
Total change (6yr): +14.3%
Annualized: +2.3%/yr
1 BR: $614 → $702

Part of the New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area

St. James Parish is a central county of the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.

St. James Parish ranks #7 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), St. Charles Parish ($1,113), St. Bernard Parish ($1,113), St. John the Baptist Parish ($1,113), Plaquemines Parish ($1,113), St. James Parish (this county) ($702).

Jefferson Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
Orleans Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
St. Charles Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
St. Bernard Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
St. John the Baptist Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
Plaquemines Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo
St. James Parish (this county)
1 BR: $702/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for St. James Parish, both outside Louisiana so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside LA (FY2026).

Pulaski County
VA · 2 BR $921/mo
George County
MS · 2 BR $921/mo
McPherson County
KS · 2 BR $920/mo
Saline County
IL · 2 BR $920/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside LA).

Hubbard County
MN · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,008/mo
Paulding County
OH · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Dunn County
WI · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,024/mo
Boone County
KY · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,353/mo

Nearby Counties in Louisiana

Largest counties by population in Louisiana

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Louisiana.

East Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo Pop: 454,369
Jefferson Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 436,171
Orleans Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 380,408
St. Tammany Parish
1 BR: $1,130/mo Pop: 266,168
Lafayette Parish
1 BR: $898/mo Pop: 243,175
Caddo Parish
1 BR: $982/mo Pop: 236,259
Calcasieu Parish
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 210,770
Ouachita Parish
1 BR: $793/mo Pop: 159,585
View all counties in Louisiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in St. James Parish? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in St. James Parish is $702 per month. A 2-bedroom is $921 and a studio is $697.
How does St. James Parish rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in St. James Parish is 27% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $702 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does St. James Parish rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, St. James Parish's 2-bedroom FMR of $921 ranks #567 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in St. James Parish? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,080 ($2,340/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in St. James Parish.
Is rent going up or down in St. James Parish? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. James Parish decreased by 5.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $741 to $702.
Which jobs can afford rent in St. James Parish? ▼
Based on Louisiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $702/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in St. James Parish over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. James Parish went from $614 in FY 2020 to $702 in FY 2026, a total change of +14.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. James Parish? ▼
In St. James Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $702/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for St. James Parish? ▼
For St. James Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($702/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.